Chapter 15: Rift Raiders and the Mastermind’s Mask
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The dawn of June 11, 2045, painted New Shanghai's skyline in streaks of fire, but the Abyssal Rift's crimson glow outshone the sunrise. Lin Hao stood at its edge, his *Blazing Weaver's Cleaver* in one hand, *Spiked Abyssal Wok* in the other, and his *Radiant Weaver's Gauntlets* humming with power. The *Crimson Fang Core*, *Abyssal Orb*, *Wraith Crown Shard*, *Titan Heart Shard*, *Behemoth Core Shard*, and *Overlord's Core* in his *Spiced Shield Apron* pulsed like a cosmic orchestra, warning of the mastermind's final surge. The latest X message—"Weaver, the Abyss awaits at the exams"—loomed in his mind, and with the Global College Combat Exams just five weeks away (July 15, 2045), Lin Hao's Level 19 *World Weaver* skills were about to face their ultimate test.
[Sassy, the mastermind's tying the surge to the exams?] Lin Hao thought, his heart racing like a stir-fry on high heat. [How do I fight a war and pass my tests?]
[Hidden Quest Update: The mastermind plans a final surge during the Global College Combat Exams. Next step: Infiltrate their Abyssal Rift stronghold and uncover their identity. Reward: 1,800 EXP, Legendary Skill Enhancer. Penalty: Total City Annihilation,] Sassy, his sharp-tongued [System], replied. [The rift's crawling with Level 20 Abyssal Harbingers—3,000 HP each—and the mastermind's likely Level 20. Use Forge of the World (2), Thread of Fate (5), Seasoning Slash (5), and Cook the World in a Pot (5) with flair. You're the Spatula Hero, kid—make it epic.]
Lin Hao's resolve hardened, his mind sparking with ideas. "If they want a war, I'll serve a banquet of pain." Squad Firestorm stood beside him: Su Yan's *Blaze Sorceress* flames crackling, Wang Lei's *Ironclad Knight* shield raised, Zhou Mei's *Wind Archer* bow taut, and Liu Tao's *Shadow Assassin* daggers glinting. The rift's energy pulsed, and the air smelled like ozone and doom.
"Spatula Boy," Su Yan said, her voice sharp as a chef's knife, "this is your craziest stunt yet. What's the play?"
Lin Hao held up the *Overlord's Core*, its glow syncing with the rift. "The mastermind's in there, planning to crash the exams with a surge. We take them out, save the city, and maybe get extra credit."
Zhou Mei grinned, nocking an arrow. "You had me at 'save the city.'"
Wang Lei grunted. "Don't screw it up."
Liu Tao nodded, vanishing into the shadows. "Lead."
[Sassy: Harbingers ahead, weak to disruption. Use Thread of Fate to scout, and Forge something game-changing. The mastermind's watching.]
Lin Hao activated *Thread of Fate (Level 5)*, weaving golden threads into a shimmering orb that floated into the rift. It pulsed, mapping a cavern of jagged crystals and glowing runes, revealing six *Abyssal Harbingers*—winged, skeletal warriors with scythes dripping black ooze.
[Scout successful! Harbingers detected. Plan a bold strike, Spatula Boy.]
Lin Hao whispered the intel, then activated *Forge of the World (Level 2)*, summoning a glowing anvil. He tossed in the *Abyssal Flame Shard*, *Behemoth Core Shard*, and *Titan Heart Shard*, weaving *Thread of Fate* to bind them. The anvil flared, crafting a *Starfire Weaver's Bow*—a radiant bow that boosted ranged attacks by 40% and had a 25% chance to disrupt Abyssal Energy.
[Weapon Crafted: Starfire Weaver's Bow – +40% ranged damage, +30% skill synergy. Special Effect: Abyssal Shatter.]
Lin Hao handed the bow to Zhou Mei. "Try this." Her eyes lit up, and she fired a test shot, the arrow blazing like a comet.
"Marry me, Spatula Boy," she joked, nocking another.
Lin Hao charged, using *Seasoning Slash (Level 5)* to hurl a *Glimmering Spice Jar* cloud, creating a *Scorching Abyss Haze* that blinded the Harbingers for 800 HP damage each.
[Debuff applied: Scorching Haze – Accuracy reduced by 90% for 40 seconds.]
Su Yan's fireballs scorched a Harbinger, Wang Lei's shield bashed another, Zhou Mei's new bow pierced two, and Liu Tao's daggers sliced a third. Lin Hao activated *Cook the World in a Pot (Level 5)*, tossing in a *Wraith Crown Shard*, *Minotaur Horn*, and *Bookworm Scales*, weaving *Thread of Fate* for flair. The wok produced *Harbinger-Halting Hotpot*—a glowing, spicy broth that surged through the rift, dealing 1,500 HP damage per Harbinger and binding them with threads.
[Combo Success! Damage dealt: 1,500 HP per Harbinger! Debuff applied: Hotpot Bind – Harbingers immobilized for 20 seconds. Squad HP restored by 80%.]
The Harbingers fell, dropping *Harbinger Wings* and *Abyssal Crystals*. The squad pushed deeper, reaching a massive chamber where the mastermind stood, their cloak falling to reveal **Madame Zhao**, the principal, her eyes glowing with Abyssal Energy. "Weaver, you've meddled enough," she sneered, raising a staff that pulsed with power.
[Sassy: Plot twist! Madame Zhao's the mastermind, Level 20, 4,000 HP. Disrupt her energy and protect the squad.]
Lin Hao's jaw dropped. "The *principal*?!" He activated *Thread of Fate*, weaving a golden barrier around the squad, boosting defense by 30%. He used *Seasoning Slash* to hurl a *Tainted Crystal* cloud, blinding Zhao with a *Blinding Starfire Haze* for 600 HP damage.
Su Yan's fireballs, Zhou Mei's bow, Wang Lei's shield, and Liu Tao's daggers hammered Zhao, but her staff summoned a Level 18 *Abyssal Serpent*. Lin Hao used *Forge of the World* to craft a *Starfire Wok Lance* from *Harbinger Wings* and *Abyssal Crystal*, boosting his melee damage by 45%. He stabbed the serpent, triggering Abyssal Shatter for 1,200 HP damage.
He followed with *Cook the World*, tossing in all his orbs (*Crimson Fang Core*, *Abyssal Orb*, *Overlord's Core*). The wok produced *Abyssal Unity Broth*—a radiant stew that dealt 2,000 HP damage to Zhao and the serpent, disrupting their energy. The squad's attacks finished them off, and Zhao collapsed, her staff shattering.
[Enemies defeated! 1,800 EXP gained! Level Up! Lin Hao is now Level 21! Skill Upgraded: Forge of the World (Level 3) – Crafting speed increased by 30%, material efficiency improved.]
The rift stabilized, and X posts exploded with #SpatulaHeroBeatsPrincipal. Su Yan grabbed Lin Hao. "You took down the principal? You're insane."
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**Cliffhanger**:
The rift sealed, but a hidden screen activated, showing a Level 30 *Abyssal Dragon* stirring under the exam arena. [Hidden Quest Update: Zhao was a puppet. The true mastermind controls the dragon, set to strike at the exams. Prepare for July 15.] An X message read: "Weaver, the Abyss never sleeps." Lin Hao gripped his lance, heart pounding. "Sassy, the exams are gonna be a dragon fight?!"
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